Derek D'Antuono
Teaching Rationale Red = New
I believe that students learn best by experience and exploration. Students need to figure out and work through different problems in order to truly appreciate what it is that they are learning. With the help of a good tour guide they can find their way through anything. As a teacher is our job to help them along and make sure that they stay on task. We're not only there to be the person that transfers the material from the book to their heads, but the bridge the helps them get from that point of hearing to the point of understanding it. Throughout this rationale I am going to explain my different views on how students learn best and in what settings, going more in depth on what I truly mean about being there for the students on their trip through learning science. I would also like to talk about how, I believe, a good classroom can be run and how important we are to the students that we teach.
As "Tour Guide" for these students we not only have the job of showing them the path but being there to explain everything to them. We have to be able to answer any questions that they might have. In no way, shape, or form does this mean that we have a job where we can stand by and let the kids try to find their own way. If they are trying to figure something out let them try, but be there if they need your help along that experience to help enhance and bring in other things they may not realize. We also have to be there to avoid them learning misconceptions which can be very easy.
I have always been a big believer that kids learn best by doing or exploring. For example, a kid who listens to an explanation of the ecology of a swamp while looking at the swamp and exploring it will benefit more then just hearing about it. I also believe that students learn from one another. When students work together and explain things to one another they can relate common ideas because they know what makes sense to a kid. The idea of group work and peer tutoring not only helps the students who struggle but also those who excel because teaching something is one of the best forms of studying it. The idea of having students work in groups can be beneficial to those students who are interpersonal learners and will not hinder those students who are intra personal learners because they can still have their time alone. The idea that students explore and do things is it gives a visual basis and can help all kinds of learners, spatial, kinesthetic, interpersonal, logical. I feel like the benefits of this type of learning is extremely important but must be monitored closely as to make sure that the students are getting the information necessary. As for doing it in groups this only furthers the ideas and brainstorming that a child is subjected to.
Although I do believe that students learn a great deal from other students I feel that students do need a certain degree of separation. Having heterogeneous groups in the middle school and tiered groups in the high school. I saw the difference in the system and realized that both work. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses. One of the large weaknesses of heterogeneous classrooms is the students who are able to reach that level 3 or 4 thinking become bored and almost annoyed at the speed of the class. The advantage of having this class together though is having the lower level kids have higher expectations of themselves. In the high school I had students say "this is a standard level class this is too much work for us". I found this disturbing because I don't like how they settle. If they were in heterogeneous classes they wouldn't be able to say things like this. Also in the standard classes there is a certain level of defiance against the work and those who do their work feel like they will be ridiculed. My personal opinion is that there should be heterogeneous classes to the best of the ability of the school. The only thing that should hinder this should be students with some need of special services and this can be worked around.
Being there for our students is important, to understand their needs and to be a role model that is always approachable and easy to talk to. We have to show them the material we teach is important and interesting. Part of our job is to make it interesting even if we know its not the most exciting subject. Some ways of helping to make a boring subject more interesting it to liven it up. We need to make it real to their lives and show them that this isn't just "stuff" you have to learn its something you may be able to use. I was in a classroom when a student said to me "I don't need to know how to read a graph I'm never going to use one. I am going to become a professional dirt bike rider." I told him that they use charts all the time in time testing and look at performance of bikes and fuels. This kind of interested him and he wanted to know more. Using things that interest the students will help them to be more involved in the class. Also if they think what they are doing is never going to benefit them they just do the work to get it done and move on. I like using real life situations and even some far fetched situations. In the astronomy class I am working on a lesson that involves the students doing research for NASA to give to aliens. Farfetched but fun and the kids will enjoy it.
Students should always know what is expected of them. Right from the very start if a student knows the rules and the repercussions for breaking them they will be likely to test them. This doesn't mean that students will not try in any classroom there will always be those students who strive for the attention and this is why theytest the rules. As for repercussions they will never involve the students doing more work because I don't want them to think of work as a punishment. I think I will try the opposite to be honest of having the student stop what they are doing and not be able to be involved for a portion of the class. Stating clearly what is expected of them is also effective for the work they do. With a good rubric the student is more likely to succeed, because they know exactly what they need to do to earn the grade they want, and there isn't room for argument.
After teaching being in a classroom of my own keeping students honest and interested is not as easy as we would like to think. Motivation is a constant battle we as teachers need to deal with everyday. Not only in the lower level classes but all classes. Along with motivation come control and behavior. Having well planned lessons that include higher level thinking and interesting relative material is a great tool to keep kids involved and out of trouble. It is also important to set a precedent in the class that you are not there to be their friend but to teach them something. If they complain that they have to much work or they really are not that fond of you its not always the worst thing in the world because it may mean that you are working them to their full potential. Only you can determine if you are overworking them or if they are just trying to see if they can manipulate you.
All in all I am excited about teaching and look forward to the challenges that lay ahead. Not really knowing what to expect I feel like I am prepared to face most anything that comes my way. I am a person who takes great pride in what I do and care quite a bit for other people. Having a classroom full of students who I will get to know over a course of seven weeks and eventually over the course of a full school year is an exciting thing to see in my future. Taking what I have learned and turning it into a real life work. I'm not trying to change the world I just want to help students to realize their potential, enjoy their time in my classroom, and most of all learn a little something about science.
Although over the past two or three months I truly have realized that I like this profession because it is rewarding and fun. Although some days you feel like you can't win with them there are those days when you get something going and the kids really take off with it. That is the point when you realize exactly why you do it. I have had my ups and downs and I'm sure there are many more to come but I look forward to the challenge. The many nervous doubts I had when I began this experience are slowly melting away but I still have a lot to prove to myself. A good teacher always looks to themselves first to see how they can improve a situation and thats what I hope to continually do over the course of my career.
Teaching Rationale
Red = New
I believe that students learn best by experience and exploration. Students need to figure out and work through different problems in order to truly appreciate what it is that they are learning. With the help of a good tour guide they can find their way through anything. As a teacher is our job to help them along and make sure that they stay on task. We're not only there to be the person that transfers the material from the book to their heads, but the bridge the helps them get from that point of hearing to the point of understanding it. Throughout this rationale I am going to explain my different views on how students learn best and in what settings, going more in depth on what I truly mean about being there for the students on their trip through learning science. I would also like to talk about how, I believe, a good classroom can be run and how important we are to the students that we teach.
As "Tour Guide" for these students we not only have the job of showing them the path but being there to explain everything to them. We have to be able to answer any questions that they might have. In no way, shape, or form does this mean that we have a job where we can stand by and let the kids try to find their own way. If they are trying to figure something out let them try, but be there if they need your help along that experience to help enhance and bring in other things they may not realize. We also have to be there to avoid them learning misconceptions which can be very easy.
I have always been a big believer that kids learn best by doing or exploring. For example, a kid who listens to an explanation of the ecology of a swamp while looking at the swamp and exploring it will benefit more then just hearing about it. I also believe that students learn from one another. When students work together and explain things to one another they can relate common ideas because they know what makes sense to a kid. The idea of group work and peer tutoring not only helps the students who struggle but also those who excel because teaching something is one of the best forms of studying it. The idea of having students work in groups can be beneficial to those students who are interpersonal learners and will not hinder those students who are intra personal learners because they can still have their time alone. The idea that students explore and do things is it gives a visual basis and can help all kinds of learners, spatial, kinesthetic, interpersonal, logical. I feel like the benefits of this type of learning is extremely important but must be monitored closely as to make sure that the students are getting the information necessary. As for doing it in groups this only furthers the ideas and brainstorming that a child is subjected to.
Although I do believe that students learn a great deal from other students I feel that students do need a certain degree of separation. Having heterogeneous groups in the middle school and tiered groups in the high school. I saw the difference in the system and realized that both work. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses. One of the large weaknesses of heterogeneous classrooms is the students who are able to reach that level 3 or 4 thinking become bored and almost annoyed at the speed of the class. The advantage of having this class together though is having the lower level kids have higher expectations of themselves. In the high school I had students say "this is a standard level class this is too much work for us". I found this disturbing because I don't like how they settle. If they were in heterogeneous classes they wouldn't be able to say things like this. Also in the standard classes there is a certain level of defiance against the work and those who do their work feel like they will be ridiculed. My personal opinion is that there should be heterogeneous classes to the best of the ability of the school. The only thing that should hinder this should be students with some need of special services and this can be worked around.
Being there for our students is important, to understand their needs and to be a role model that is always approachable and easy to talk to. We have to show them the material we teach is important and interesting. Part of our job is to make it interesting even if we know its not the most exciting subject. Some ways of helping to make a boring subject more interesting it to liven it up. We need to make it real to their lives and show them that this isn't just "stuff" you have to learn its something you may be able to use. I was in a classroom when a student said to me "I don't need to know how to read a graph I'm never going to use one. I am going to become a professional dirt bike rider." I told him that they use charts all the time in time testing and look at performance of bikes and fuels. This kind of interested him and he wanted to know more. Using things that interest the students will help them to be more involved in the class. Also if they think what they are doing is never going to benefit them they just do the work to get it done and move on. I like using real life situations and even some far fetched situations. In the astronomy class I am working on a lesson that involves the students doing research for NASA to give to aliens. Farfetched but fun and the kids will enjoy it.
Students should always know what is expected of them. Right from the very start if a student knows the rules and the repercussions for breaking them they will be likely to test them. This doesn't mean that students will not try in any classroom there will always be those students who strive for the attention and this is why they test the rules. As for repercussions they will never involve the students doing more work because I don't want them to think of work as a punishment. I think I will try the opposite to be honest of having the student stop what they are doing and not be able to be involved for a portion of the class. Stating clearly what is expected of them is also effective for the work they do. With a good rubric the student is more likely to succeed, because they know exactly what they need to do to earn the grade they want, and there isn't room for argument.
After teaching being in a classroom of my own keeping students honest and interested is not as easy as we would like to think. Motivation is a constant battle we as teachers need to deal with everyday. Not only in the lower level classes but all classes. Along with motivation come control and behavior. Having well planned lessons that include higher level thinking and interesting relative material is a great tool to keep kids involved and out of trouble. It is also important to set a precedent in the class that you are not there to be their friend but to teach them something. If they complain that they have to much work or they really are not that fond of you its not always the worst thing in the world because it may mean that you are working them to their full potential. Only you can determine if you are overworking them or if they are just trying to see if they can manipulate you.
All in all I am excited about teaching and look forward to the challenges that lay ahead. Not really knowing what to expect I feel like I am prepared to face most anything that comes my way. I am a person who takes great pride in what I do and care quite a bit for other people. Having a classroom full of students who I will get to know over a course of seven weeks and eventually over the course of a full school year is an exciting thing to see in my future. Taking what I have learned and turning it into a real life work. I'm not trying to change the world I just want to help students to realize their potential, enjoy their time in my classroom, and most of all learn a little something about science.
Although over the past two or three months I truly have realized that I like this profession because it is rewarding and fun. Although some days you feel like you can't win with them there are those days when you get something going and the kids really take off with it. That is the point when you realize exactly why you do it. I have had my ups and downs and I'm sure there are many more to come but I look forward to the challenge. The many nervous doubts I had when I began this experience are slowly melting away but I still have a lot to prove to myself. A good teacher always looks to themselves first to see how they can improve a situation and thats what I hope to continually do over the course of my career.